Shell follow Total into SA’s relatively unexplored waters seeking oil

(Bloomberg) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc is planning to acquire an oil-block stake in a second deal in South Africa’s relatively unexplored waters, months after a major discovery by Total SA boosted the country’s hydrocarbon prospects.

Shell has applied to take a stake in a license owned by OK Energy, located in deep waters off South Africa’s west coast, according to Petroleum Agency South Africa. “We have indeed received an application which is awaiting ministerial approval,” the regulator said in a reply to questions about the block.

Shell declined to comment. Should the deal for OK Energy’s license go through, it would add to the company’s acquisition of a 40% interest in deep-water blocks 5, 6 and 7 in the Atlantic off Cape Town from Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

In February, Total discovered an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent east of Anadarko’s blocks, where the oceans meet at the tip of the continent. South Africa’s first deep-water find was described as “catalytic” for the country by South African Oil & Gas Alliance, an industry lobby group.

Besides the block Shell is interested in, OK Energy, a small oil and gas company, also holds a 10% stake in another area with Equinor ASA off South Africa’s east coast.